First Look| High End Complexion and Palette Haulabration

As a shopaholic, it takes a certain self-awareness to know your own demons. After receiving a job offer, I couldn't help but to celebrate with a haul. When I'm sad, I usually head to the mall. When I'm happy, I usually head to the mall and come back with a long receipt and the guilt of ten mass murderers.

As the weather is now definitely cold, harsh, rainy, windy, and generally gloomy, I wanted something to perk up my complexion. In specific, I wanted to add a glow without a bronze, if that makes sense. Enter Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Dore ($58 retail), charmingly known as Ballz to the makeup blog world. These add a very subtle hint of radiance to my skin and works as a finishing powder. 

For a base, I decided to bite the bullet and finally try out the infamous Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand 1W2 ($36 retail). It's been a week of constant use, and I really enjoy the formula. It's a medium coverage foundation that glides on effortlessly and is indeed long-wearing as it claims. Its also a natural finish rather than a dreaded matte as I was expecting. 

And of course, for skincare, I got my hands on REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Mask ($55 retail). It smells and feels like marmalade, but it tightened my pores and got rid of flakes in just one use. It's also a complete b*tch to take off, but they give you a handy muslin for that purpose.

You can find my first look and review of the Laura Mercier Artist Palette for Eyes in the post below. I also picked up another Lancome Cils Booster, because this shiz is the shiz. It's doing work on my lashes, especially in the length deparment. I will do a review of the YSL Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry shadow palette in #9 ($55 retail) in another post since I have loads to rant about that one. I'll also be posting an in depth review of the Stila In the Light palette ($39 retail) for you in the upcoming week. 

Oh, and I shamefully made VIB Rouge. Tsk tsk.

Work has been great, I think I would enjoy it more if I wasn't working on the holiday weekend after Thanksgiving. Oh well, c'est la vie. 

XO, Be

Haul| Sephora VIB Sale (Guerlain, Bulgari, Dolce and Gabbana, Hourglass, YSL, etc)

This is the culmination of my shame. And guess what? My Guerlain Meteorites hasn't even arrived!

While I shell out here and there for mid-range items throughout the year, Sephora's VIB sale presented itself as an opportunity to haul massively overpriced and high end items. Why not? 20% off really counts when the item is over 50 bucks, and you best believe others thought the same. I had a little help from a few gift cards and store credit cards. Also, I made VIB Rouge status (so shameful) and won't be buying until next January when the hype around Naked 3 has died down.

 I went in stores for my first batch and the store was swarming with women buying Christmas gifts early and others grabbing limited edition items like it was a Walmart food aisle during a zombie apocalypse. It was embarrassing, and I partook in it, snatching the last Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette and hurriedly stuffing it into my cart. I do regret not buying the Laura Mercier's Artist Palette for 2013, but that's another sob story involving my complete undecided-ness and lack of passion for purple.

Warning, this post is heavily heavy with heavy swatches and pictures. 

I picked up the last Bulgari Jasmin Noir EDP for her and Dolce and Gabbana The One cologne for him. Lovely for the upcoming winter, as both smell musky and work well fireside and cuddling.

Next, I hauled Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation in OC-2 (perfect for NC25-NC30), a full sized Hourglass No.28 Serum primer (not pictured, but I do have the sample), D&G Blush in Tan, and an Illamasqua Blush Brush for contouring.

From left to right: NARS Gypsy, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Violet Incognito, and UD Revolution in Native.

Sorry for the blurry picture, I wanted to zoom in some more.

Under natural lighting. It's rather overcast at the moment.

Under fluorescent lighting. 

Below, the amazingly overpriced Guerlain Ecrin Couleurs in Les Fumes, Shiseido eyelash curler, and Lancome Cils Booster XL lash booster.

The first four are swatches of the Les Fumes. The color on the outer right is D&G blush in Tan.

And finally, the piece de resistance, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette and single in Ethereal Light.

From left to right: Ethereal, Radiant, Incandescent, and Dim Light. All under unflattering fluorescent lighting.

Another view. Notice how Ethereal looks rather pale and matte, perfect for a setting powder. These are built up at 3 passes.

 That's all for today, I want to do a very in depth review for most of the individual items in my haul, because I happened to pick up a lot of great finds. I'm very impressed with a lot of the things in my find, especially since they have to live up to the expectation of their pricetags. I'm expecting Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Beige this Monday, and that will be another post for you to see. It's pretty exciting to own so many shiny, sparkly, velvet wrapped things with a brand name like Guerlain!

 I'm also looking to do a review of the Vice 2 palette, if that horse hasn't already been beaten to death with a blunt cudgel. Have a lovely day!

Be